V
Biggleswade United Colours: Red / Navy
Hadley
Colours: White / Black
1
Tom Wyant
1
Charlie Mann
17
Kane Farrell
2
Mustafa Mutlak
3
Nyasha Sagwete
3
Luke Jupp
4
Lee Bilcock
4
Harry Sedgley
5
Martin Russell ©
5
Sam Lyon
6
Nick Elliot
6
Tony Sabag ©
7
Jake O’Neill
7
Alan Murray
8
Gareth Hunt
8
Nick Chrysanthou
9
Charlie Black
9
Ivan Machedo
10
Sergio Lopez
10
Hesham Benmansour
11
Abraham Eze
11
Dom Petrucci
12
Matt Cooper
12
Tom Milton
14
Liam Sweeney
GK
Tom Le Tissier
15
Kevin Owusu
15
Ibrahim Lukulay
16
Scott Batchelor
16
Michael Elliott
2
Josh Sturniolo
17
Tyrone Mulholland
GK
Adam Counihan
18
Louis Bowen
18
Charlie Evans-Critchley
19
Tafari Nicolas
19
Adam Sartini
20
Francis Tango
Head Coach: Cristian Colas Becerra
Manager: Micky Hazard
Asst Coach: Stuart Bimson Goalkeeping Coach: Tim Jefferies
Asst. Manager: Julian Robinson Coaches: Frank Sidoli Hector Varela
Conditioning Coach: Josu Carrasco
Goalkeeping Coach: Physio:
Physio: Ikera Williams Match Officials Referee: Mr Jeff Aldous Assistants: Mr J Chidley and Mr J Nettleton
My Biggleswade Tuesday 9th August 2016 Match Programme Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division Biggleswade United FC V Hadley Visit us:www.BiggleswadeUnited.com Follow us:@Biggleswadeutd Support Us: Here
BIGGLESWADE UNITED – OUR HISTORY (continued)
Stay with us after our Saturday afternoon match to watch Premier Division football on the big screen TV. All BT SPORT matches will be shown in the clubhouse after our matches.
The next eleven years saw the first team led by Steve "Snowy" Wright and under his management the club continued to enjoy a very high level of League and Cup success ultimately achieving promotion to the Molten Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division and with it the opportunity to compete in the FA Cup. And under Snowy the club made three Beds FA Senior Challenge Cup final appearances, winning two of the three with victories over Stotfold (4-1) and Leighton Town (1-0) but missed out in 2006/07 going down 2-0 to Dunstable Town. Snowy's other cup successes came in the form of the Hunts Premier Cup, North Beds Charity Cup, Hinchingbrooke Cup, the SML Division One Cup and the SML Special Achievement Award once again. The end of the 2006 2007 saw Snowy step down as manager with his assistant, Nick Burton taking over the first team reins. January 5th 2009 saw the club embark on further ambitious ground improvements. With financial backing from Biggleswade Town Council, Mid Beds District Council and the Football Foundation we installed a 260-seater stand, fully enclosed the ground with a double turnstile entrance and players' secure walkway which raised the ground to Grade E status. After several years of stability in terms of first team managers the next six years saw a regular turnover of first team and reserve team managers with Nick Burton, Dave Elkin and Phil Childs all taking over the first team reins for a time. At the start of the 2013 2014 season we appointed Mick Reardon and Mark Royal as first team managers both of whom had enjoyed success as coaches at the higher levels of football. Their disciplined approach was quickly adhered to and responded to by the players and under their stewardship we achieved the highest Premier Division position in nine years and first silverware in seven years winning the North Beds Charity Cup for the first time in the club’s history. In November 2014 the club took a further positive step to realise our ambitions with the appointment of Sky Sports Presenter and renowned author, Guillem Balague as Biggleswade United’s Director of Football. Following Mick and Mark’s decision to step down at the end 2014 2015, Guillem was quick to act and recruited a new Head Coach in Cristian Colas Beccera who at the age of just 23 gained his UEFA Level 3 Pro License and went on to become assistant coach at CD Masnou and later C.E. Europa both of who play in the Spanish 3rd division the equivalent of the English League Division Two. He then moved to Finland where he worked for Finnish third division side PK.K-U as head coach and with the club’s academy. This coming season Cristian will be assisted by Stuart Bimson with Goalkeeping Coach Tim Jefferies and Conditioning Coach Josu Carrasco. The club has certainly come a long way in relatively few years but we could not have done it without the help of a very supportive Town and District Council who clearly understand the benefits of having a community based club in Biggleswade. Our success is also very much down to a very hard working committee who throughout the year continue to volunteer their time and commitment to the club, to help it continue to thrive and be a source of enjoyment for our supporters and the Biggleswade community.
BIGGLESWADE UNITED – OUR HISTORY (1) Biggleswade United Football Club was re-formed on the 16th July 1959. However, local history records indicate that there was a Biggleswade United side playing at Second Meadow as early as 1929. Our first season (1959/60) saw us competing in Division Three of the North Herts. League (NHL). After 10 successful years in the NHL the club made the step up to South Midlands League (SML) football. But towards the end of a 15year association with the SML the club began to struggle and after three years of finishing in the bottom three of Division One we sought fresh fields. The club joined the Herts. Senior but club continued to find the going tough. In 1986 we elected to return to local League football, joining the Bedford and District Football League and began to build again. The appointment of Brian Swords as first team manager in 87/88 proved to be the turning point in the club's fortunes. During the next ten years the club achieved a tremendous amount of success on and off the football pitch. Our record of League and Cup honours speak for themselves but aligned to this a great deal of work went on behind the scenes to match the on-field success. The club now boasts one of the best clubhouse and ground facilities in the Mid-Bedfordshire area. The success of the club has also attracted many new players as well as commanding a great deal of loyalty from those players who helped the club progress from Division Three of the Bedford and District League to County Senior Club status in just 15 years. The 1995/96 season was the most successful in the club's history - winning five major honours; the Beds Intermediate County Cup, Bedford and District League Championship, League Cup Championship and as the League's representatives the club won the Beds. FA Centenary Cup. Having won every major Bedford League honour the club felt it was time to move on and made the decision to make the step up once again and returned to Division One of the SML. In an exceptionally successful first season we celebrated a Division One "double" by winning the Championship and the Division One Cup. We also retained the Beds. FA Intermediate County Cup, only the second club in the competition's history to achieve this feat. To crown our success the club were awarded the SML Special Achievement Trophy in July 1997. In the season 1997/98 we finally achieved Senior status. This was achieved not only through the endeavours of the players on the field but ultimately as a result of an extremely hard working committee. With the help of the Biggleswade Town Council a new stand was erected and perimeter fencing installed. And two seasons later the club erected floodlights and on the evening of 26th October 1999 we played our first-ever floodlit game at Second Meadow, Ryman League side Leighton Town were the visitors in the Bedfordshire Premier Cup.
Welcome to Second Meadow…. Good evening and welcome to Second Meadow for our first home fixture of the 2016 2017 season. Tonight we extend a very warm welcome to the players, officials and supporters of HADLEY FC. We also welcome our three match officials and hope that you all enjoy your short stay with us. I hope you have all enjoyed the two month rest and looking forward to another season that has all clubs around the country hoping optimistically that this will be a season to remember for all the right reasons. For those of us working behind the scenes it has been a hectic closed season with our efforts focussed on refurbishing the Gents and a tremendous amount of work went on renovating the playing surface ready for the new season. I have to say that the hard work has certainly paid off as the pitch is in the best condition I have ever seen it in all of 30+ years at the club. I will let you decide for yourself on the Gents toilets!! There is a multitude of individuals to thank for the hard work so I would like to extend a collective big thanks to one and all. Pre-season saw several new players introduced to the club and our record saw us play five with two defeats, one draw and two victories. All matches were played against opposition at Steps 3, 4 and 5 and all presented challenges that the players responded to superbly well with some excellent team performances. Of course there are always departures and Tom Cookman and Luke Jones both felt that they could not give the level of commitment to training that Cristian and the coaching team desired and decided that for the short term at least they would seek new pastures. Everyone at the club has wished them well and we say thank you to both players who have been with the club for a long time – Jonesy for almost ten years. Other departures saw Adam Drakulic and Andy Stadnyk move to Division One side Arlesey Town Reserves and again we wish them all the very best. There is a list of the new players at the club overleaf. Tonight’s match is going ahead by virtue of the fact that both sides celebrated their passage through to the next stages of the FA Cup on Saturday. We enjoyed a 0-1 victory at UCL Premier Division side Newport Pagnell Town with a wonder goal from newcomer Sergio Lopez who was coached as a youngster by none other than Mr Guardiola. Hadley also enjoyed a 1-0 away win at Thurlow Nunn side Brantham Athletic with a goal from Hesham Benmansour. Our next opponents will be Southern League side Aylesbury United while Hadley travel to Hertford Town both on Saturday 20th August. On Saturday we welcome Premier Division newcomers Edgware Town. Kick of 3pm
Let’s hope for an exciting and enjoyable game tonight. Tracey James (Club Secretary and Programme Editor)
LAST SATURDAY’S RESULTS
TONIGHT’S FIXTURES
FA Cup
Crawley Green
2-1
Rothwell Corinthians
League
Oxhey Jets
v
Welwyn Garden City
FA Cup
St Margaretsbury
2-5
Long Melford
League
Biggleswade United
v
Hadley
FA Cup
Bedford
1-2
Welwyn Garden City
League
Edgware Town
v
FC Broxbourne Boro
FA Cup
Brantham Athletic
0-1
Hadley
League
Leighton Town
v
Cockfosters
FA Cup
Burnham
0-2
Oxhey Jets
League
London Colney
v
Berkahmsted
FA Cup
Cockfosters
1-2
Harpenden Town
League
St Margaretsbury
v
Colney Heath
FA Cup
Cogenhoe Unied
1-0
Berkhamsted
League
Tring Athletic
v
Leverstock Green
FA Cup
Edgware Town
5-1
Holmer Green
FA Cup rep
Sun Sports
v
London Tigers
FA Cup
FC Broxbourne Boro
1-5
Felixstowe & Walton Utd
FA Cup
Haverhill Rovers
1-2
Hertford Town
League
Crawley Green
v
Holmer Green
FA Cup
Hoddesdon Town
1-0
Stansted
League
Hoddesdon Town
v
Stotfold
FA Cup
Leighton Town
1-2
Northampton Sileby
FA Cup
Leverstock Green
1-2
London Colney
League
Biggleswade United
v
Edgware Town
FA Cup
London Tigers
1-1
Sun Sports
League
Crawley Green
v
Cockfosters
FA Cup
Newport Pagnell Tn
0-1
Biggleswade United
League
Hertford Town
v
Hoddesdon Town
FA Cup
Tring Athletic
0-1
Desborough Town
League
Holmer Green
v
Berkhamsted
FA Cup
Wellingborough Town
1-3
Stotfold
League
Leighton Town
v
Welwyn Garden City
FA Cup
Wembley
4-0
Daventry Town
League
Leverstock Green
v
St Margaretsbury
League
London Colney
v
Tring Athletic
League
London Tigers
v
Hadley
League
Oxhey Jets
v
Colney Heath
League
Sun Sports
v
FC Broxbourne Boro
League
Wembley
v
Stotfold
Wednesday 10th August
SATURDAY 13TH AUGUST
FA CUP JOY FOR UNITED Forget the infamous transfer deadline day. In the world of Non-League football it is the Friday Noon deadline that looms large for clubs in the FA Cup and on this occasion United were thankful for a last minute email from Spain to confirm the International Clearance of former Barcelona ‘B’ player, Sergio Lopez (pictured). With just 38 minutes to spare to that deadline, the Spaniard’s dream of playing in the English FA Cup came true and to cap it all he scored a peach of a winner for his new club that saw the Second Meadow side progress to the next round. On a blisteringly hot afternoon, United made their first ever trip to UCL Side Newport Pagnell Town who presented probably the sternest test of all of the South Midlands League sides’ opposition, having finished 3rd in the Premier Division table last term. But it was an excellent all round team performance that saw Cristian Colas’ team boss the first half proceedings and the contrast in styles was stark. United played possession football, free flowing and controlled. The Swans had prolific strikers Darren Lynch and Dom Lawless as their target men so it came as no surprise that the counter attack, long ball was their game plan. Fortunately, United’s defensive trio of Nyasha Sagwete, Martin Russell and Lee Bilcock have enough quality and experience under their belts and were able to snuff out most of the first half advances leaving young ‘keeper, Tom Wyant, with only a handful of half chances to deal with. At the other end United’s best chance came in the 26th minute. Kane Farrell’s corner was punched clear by the Swan’s Mark Osborn but the rebound was sent smashing against the crossbar by Nick
Elliot followed by a fingertip save from Osborn to deny debutant Abraham Eze. Jake O’Neill was next to see Osborn palm away his low drive and Bilcock sent a header from Elliot’s free kick just wide of the upright. United couldn’t have wished for a better start to the second period. Substitute Scott Batchelor chased down a seemingly lost cause in the 52nd minute but the youngster managed to block Osborn’s clearance and with the keeper caught off his line, Lopez sent a sublime chipped shot over the 6 foot 5” keeper and in to the net for 0-1. United continued to press forward but as the clock ticked down were slowly pulled back as the Swans pushed players forward in search of an equaliser. In the final ten minutes the home side had a penalty shout turned down after a free kick thundered against the United wall hitting a United arm and in the 88th minute Wyant was at full stretch to turn over a speculative strike from Lawless. Despite the last ditch flurries from the home side, United stood firm and dug deep for victory that sees them on their travels once more with a trip to Southern League side Aylesbury United FC.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF HADLEY FC Hadley Football Club were founded in 1882 and started playing in the North Middlesex League.[ After the Second world war they joined the Barnet and District League and, from about 1947, played at Wrotham Park at the Barnet end of Kitts End Road. Hadley played there until about 1955 when they then moved to Barnet Playing Fields in order to "have some better facilities"and joined the North Suburban Intermediate league. The club then joined the Mid-Herts Football League and won the Premier Division twice in 1975–76 and 1976–77, as well as the Mid Herts Premier Division Shield in 1976–77. In the 1977–78 season the club joined the Hertfordshire Senior County League, starting in Division Three and winning that division in their first attempt.[4] The club also moved grounds to enable them to progress to the Herts Senior County League and moved to a pitch with better facilities in St. Albans Road, Barnet (current home of Bridgedown Golf Club). However they only had a single season at this ground as they were told that the pitch was no longer available to hire, so they moved to Chandos Avenue, Whetstone, until 1985. Their first season at Chandos Avenue also saw the club gain promotion to the Premier division. The club stayed in the Hertfordshire Senior County League until 1985 when they joined the Southern Olympian League and moved grounds again to play at the Woodside Park Club, Southover, Totteridge. The club moved grounds again in 1992 to their present home of Parkfield and re-joined the Herts Senior County League in the 1999–00 season. Two seasons later they won the Division One championship and moved up to the Premier Division. In the 2003–04 season the club won the Premier Division and the Herts Senior Centenary Trophy. They maintained their winning form by winning the league again the following season and in the 2005–06 they won the Aubrey Cup. At the end of the 2006–07 season the club made an application to join the Spartan South Midlands league, this was blocked by the Herts County League, so the following season (2007–08) the club, dropped out of the Herts County league and played its football in the West Herts Saturday League, winning the Premier Division at the first attempt. A further application was made to join the Spartan South Midlands League, and the club was accepted into division two for the start of the 2008–09 season. The club gained promotion to Division One in their first season of Spartan South Midlands League, and repeated the promotion process again a season later. Also in the 2009–10 season the club entered the FA Vase for the first time, and one season later made their debut in the FA Cup. We look forward to the 2016-7 season which sees our 1st team return home after 8 seasons of groundsharing with Potters Bar Town FC following approximately £400,000 worth of improvements to facilities at Brickfield Lane in Arkley, Barnet. Ground improvements include the installation of floodlights, a spectator stand, new fencing and pathways, pitch drainage installation, a new car park and the refurbishment of the pavilion clubhouse and changing rooms. This has been made possible thanks to grants and donations from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, Sport England, the Peter Harrison Foundation, the Happy Charitable Trust, Village Healthcare and the Back2Barnet campaign. We are also extremely grateful for the support of our main club sponsors Winkworth Barnet and all other sponsors who support us We look forward to returning home!
The new faces at United…. Name Abraham Eze Gareth Hunt Reece Morgan Kevin Owusu Josh Sturniolo Sergio Lopez Carles Vilalta Jordan Wright
Age 20 23 24 18 23 30 22 23
Previous Club Dunstable Town Bedford Cornard United MK Dons Olney Town Mataro CE - Spain Manresa CE - Spain Bedford
NEXT FIXTURE AT SECOND MEADOW SATURDAY 13th AUGUST 2016
BIGGLESWADE UNITED
V EDGWARE TOWN KICK OFF 3pm
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION 2016-2017 (Last season’s final table position in brackets)
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Berkhamsted Biggleswade United Cockfosters Colney Heath Crawley Green Edgware Town FC Broxbourne Boro Hadley Hertford Town Hoddesdon Town Holmer Green Leighton Town Leverstock Green London Colney London Tigers Oxhey Jets St Margaretsbury Stotfold Sun Sports Tring Athletic Welwyn Garden City Wembley
(5) (10) (9) (20) (Promoted Div One) (Promoted Div One)
(17) (6) (8) (3) (7) (Relegated Southern Lge)
(19) (2) (13) (18) (20) (16) (15) (12) (5) (11)